Here one day, gone the next, that seems to be the trend with banks across the Western Plains.

The latest branches to be hit with imminent closure are the National Australia Banks at Gilgandra, Warren and Lake Cargelligo - all slated to close in August.

This comes only months after NAB reduced hours in these branches along with Bourke, Cobar, Condobolin, Coonamble and Nyngan. Narromine's NAB was closed altogether.

The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has also had the axe out for local branches, closing Gilgandra's branch only a few months ago.

Customers from all three areas have been sent letters by NAB, stating "more and more, our customers are choosing to do their banking online, over the phone or by video conference," as one reason for closures.

Warren customers requiring over the counter transactions have been referred to the next nearest branch at Nyngan, a 78.5 kilometre one way trip.

Lake Cargelligo customers will need to make a two hour round trip to Condobolin while Gilgandra's NAB customers will need to visit Dubbo 64.6 kilometres away.

NAB offers statistics to back its actions saying, in Warren, only eight per cent of customers rely solely on branch only banking and only half of customers have visited the bank in the past year.

In Lake Cargelligo and Gilgandra, statistics are similar with seven per cent of customers relying only on coming into the branch to do their banking and an estimated 44 per cent (Lake Cargelligo) and 47 per cent (Gilgandra) only visiting the branch once in the last 12 months.

Rich banks, poor behaviour

This is little comfort to the residents of these towns who rely on the friendly faces behind the counter.

"As soon as they cut their opening hours, I knew it was only a matter of time before they closed, so I opened an account at Bendigo," a resident of Gilgandra said. 

Disrespect from NAB toward country customers was a theme on social media.

"This is disgraceful, country people again disadvantaged," said one irate resident.

"Over $4 billion in profit over six months yet all the big banks are closing regional branches!?!? Shows how much us rural customers mean to them... shame," said another.

These themes are repeated in multiple submissions to the federal government's current Inquiry into Regional Branch Closures, with a lack of local consultation, increasing vulnerability of customers where branches are closed and impacts on local business and community organisations also raised as key points for small towns.

One way trip to digital

The Australian Banking Association (ABA) said a new report has revealed the extent of the digital revolution underway in Australian banking with 98.9 per cent of customer interactions now taking place via apps or online, and cash being used for just 13 per cent of payments (down from 70% in 2007). 

The sharp decline in over-the-counter transactions and more customers preferring online banking has seen branches steadily closing since the 1990s, and COVID-19 forced the trend to gather pace, sparking criticism from regional communities and prompting a Senate inquiry on regional branch closures.

The Senate inquiry wrapped up its public hearings last week finding over 650 bank branches closed down since the beginning of the pandemic, leaving some regional communities without a branch.

Though we don't have a crystal ball, it seems that the latest bank closures will not be the last.